Concluding an extra ordinary meeting of the executive body of the Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) their president Th. Gulchain Singh Charak compared the growing unrest and agitated moods of otherwise peace loving Dogras of Jammu to a simmering Volcano that may burst open anytime.
The border area population is under constant threat to their lives and has suffered colossal losses of lives, injuries, cattle stock and agriculture. The hollow government promises of safe shelters, bunkers, residential plots, compensation of their losses due to Pakistan’s firing are nowhere in sight. DSS strongly recommends that their crops, cattle and costly agriculture machineries should be insured at government cost. The president DSS thanked the Government of India for approving the raising of border Battalions and 60 percent reservation for border youth in IRP Battalions. This was a long pending demand of DSS. He hoped and urged for early implementation of the decision lest it remains confined to files only.
The West Pakistan refugees are no way charmed by the enhanced monitory package offered by the Home Minister Shri Raj Nath Singh. They want to live like honourable citizens with due democratic citizenship rights of voting and facilities in education, jobs and the State resident certificates. Around three lakh refugees from West Pakistan who are settled in Jammu and Kashmir have been denied the local democratic rights guaranteed under Article 35A which are given to the original residents of the state.
The employment of these refugee migrants is permissible in All India Services through UPSC, where they can become chief secretary of J&K, the DGP of J&K police, but unfortunately cannot hold any position higher than a Safai Karmchari, or as clerk or a constable/ peon in the state. The Anganwari workers/ helpers are yet to get their demands of increased honorariums fulfilled. It is ironical that those women devoted to the cause of caring for newly born infants and nursing mothers are denied their own rights and unable to care for their own children, said the former minister. The revenue Department officials, comprising Patwaris and Girdawars, are on a statewide strike under the banner of the All Jammu and Kashmir Patwar Association (AJKPA). They have their long-pending demands, including grade pay of graduate Patwaris, creation of Patwar Halqas, ban on direct recruitment of Naib Tehsildars, enhancement of allowances, and rent for Patwar Khanas (private accommodation), etc. Their continued pen-down strike is causing inconvenience to the public since all the revenue matters, mutations and compensations are held up causing great resentment and hardship to common people. There is increased lawlessness, growing unemployment, increased violence, terror strikes and active drug mafias. Evil forces are active to create a communal divide and disturb the traditional peace of the region, while the government machinery is proving hapless. A stage is nearing when the people may not be able to bear it more. President DSS and the members called upon the people to maintain communal harmony and urged the government to come out of the slumber and their traditional ‘K’ centric thinking and attend to these vital issues before it is too late. The prominent members who were present in the meeting included Prof. N.K. Dogra, Vice President, Col. Karan Singh Jamwal, Vice President, Sh. Prem Sagar Gupta, Gen Secretary, Brig. M.S. Jamwal, Incharge Press & Publicity, Sh. Janak Khajuria, Secretary, Col. Dr. Virendra K. Sahi, Vr. Chakra, Incharge Media Cell, Smt. Anita Billawaria, Incharge Mahila Wing, Smt. Santosh Magotra, Sh. G.A. Khawaja, Sr. Kulbir Singh, Sh. Chhankar Singh, Sh Syed Amanat Ali Shah, Sh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Incharge Youth Wing, Sh. S. Peter, Sh. K.P. Singh, Sh. Madan Lal Bhagat, Sh. S.S. Samyal, Dr. Sant Kumar Dingra, Dr Raghubir Singh, Sh. Swaran Singh, Sh. Sukhdev Singh and Sh. Karan Singh Jamwal
